• Increased neutrophil extracellular trap-mediated Staphylococcus aureus clearance through inhibition of nuclease activity by clindamycin and immunoglobulin.

      Schilcher, Katrin; Andreoni, Federica; Uchiyama, Satoshi; Ogawa, Taiji; Schuepbach, Reto A; Zinkernagel, Annelies S; Helmholtz Centre for infection reseach, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. (2014-08-01)
      The Gram-positive human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus causes a variety of human diseases such as skin infections, pneumonia, and endocarditis. The micrococcal nuclease Nuc1 is one of the major S. aureus virulence factors and allows the bacterium to avoid neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-mediated killing. We found that addition of the protein synthesis inhibitor clindamycin to S. aureus LAC cultures decreased nuc1 transcription and subsequently blunted nuclease activity in a molecular beacon-based fluorescence assay. We also observed reduced NET degradation through Nuc1 inhibition translating into increased NET-mediated clearance. Similarly, pooled human immunoglobulin specifically inhibited nuclease activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of nuclease activity by clindamycin and immunoglobulin enhanced S. aureus clearance and should be considered in the treatment of S. aureus infections.
    • Localization of the C3-Like ADP-ribosyltransferase from Staphylococcus aureus during bacterial invasion of mammalian cells.

      Molinari, Gabriella; Rohde, Manfred; Wilde, Christian; Just, Ingo; Aktories, Klaus; Chhatwal, Gursharan S; Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, GBF-German Research Centre for Biotechnology, Mascheroder Weg 1, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. (2006-06)
      The C3stau2 exoenzyme from Staphylococcus aureus is a C3-like ADP-ribosyltransferase which possesses no specific receptor-binding domain or translocation unit required for entry in target cells where its substrate is located. Here we show that C3stau2 can reach its target after invasion of staphylococci in eukaryotic cells without needing translocation.